Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers for Uterine Diseases in Dogs

Abstract

Contents Common uterine diseases in female dogs include cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH), mucometra, hydrometra and pyometra. It is important in clinical practice to recognize pyometra because it is potentially life‐threatening due to the systemic illness induced by bacterial infection of the uterus. In contrast, the uterine content is sterile in CEH and mucometra/hydrometra, and clinical signs are mostly mild or absent. Optimal treatment depends on the type of uterine disease and its severity, but diagnosis and prognosis determination may be challenging and the diseases difficult to separate clinically. Diagnostic findings or biomarkers that may aid in the differentiation of the diseases are valuable, especially when several bitches are admitted with a fluid‐filled uterus during night‐time, and it has to be decided which patient to operate on first. Additionally, some variables may indicate outcome as measured by mortality or morbidity. If the uterus is not enlarged or fluid‐filled, detection of uterine disease can be even more difficult. In this study, clinically useful variables with possible diagnostic or prognostic value for uterine diseases in dogs are discussed.

The morphological changes in bitches endometrium affected by Cystic Endometrail Hyperplasia - Pyometra complex – the value of routine histopathological examination

“…The routine clinical examination commonly used in veterinary practice is an insu cient method for early diagnosis of pathological conditions of the uterus [26,29]. Biopsy of the uterus is a recommended test, which is considered to be one of the most accurate procedures for providing information about the actual condition of the organ [30].…”

“…Thus, pyometra can coexist with cystic endometrial hyperplasia of the glands, although this is often not necessary the case. Both conditions may be separate uteropathies and are often diagnosed independently [6,9,29].…”

Immunohistochemical Detection of Estrogen Receptors in Canine Mammary Tumors

“…Repeated progesterone influence during each metoestrus in cycling bitches leads to the gradual development of CEH, fluid accumulation and/or bacterial infection, with the most severe end stage being pyometra. Progesterone, especially after previous oestrogen influence, contributes to the development of disease because the influence of this hormone renders the uterus susceptible to bacterial infection and pyometra (22,23). There are contradictory results regarding the benefit of ovariectomy performed together with mastectomy as well as the connection of abnormal oestrous cycle, false pregnancy, pregnancy, number of litters etc.…”

<b>Avaliação da predisposição genética e fatores preditivos para o desenvolvimento do choque séptico em cadelas acometidas por piometra</b>

“…A mucometra, hidrometra e piometra são afecções que ocorrem pelo acúmulo de líquido no útero e são diferenciadas pelo tipo de fluido presente. Na mucometra, o conteúdo uterino varia de sero-mucoso a mucoso, na hidrometra é seroso e na piometra ocorre acúmulo de material purulento ou hemopurulento (HAGMAN, 2014). A piometra é uma condição comum importante clinicamente; as consequências são potencialmente letais e os sintomas são de manifestação local e sistêmica (GIBSON et al, 2013;GIFFORD et al, 2014;HAGMAN, 2014).…”

“…Na piometra, o grau das alterações sistêmicas é refletido em alterações hematológicas e bioquímicas mais ou menos grave. A liberação de endotoxinas associada com o processo inflamatório acarreta alterações da medula óssea e anemia normocitica normocrômica, trombocitopenia, leucocitose com neutrofilia e desvio a esquerda são muitas vezes observadas, porém, ocasionalmente a leucopenia pode estar presente (JITPEAN et al, 2014;HAGMAN, 2014). Os animais incluídos na pesquisa apresentaram uma correlação negativa da gravidade do quadro com o número de hemácias, hematócrito e quantidade de hemoglobina, ficando evidente que quanto maior a gravidade do quadro maior o efeito negativo sobre a medula óssea.…”